Lock for vehicle-tongues.



W. N. GOODWIN. LOCK FOR YEHIULE TONGUES. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 21.1908.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

shweutoz l/l/lll oodwam Wit mom abtowoqs nu: NORRIS PETERS co..wnsmmnolv. c

WILLIS N. GOODWIN, Ol ALBUQUERQUE, 'llfiltltl'tOltY OF NEW HFXIUO.

LOOK FOR VEHICLE-TONGUES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Application filed January 21, 1908. Serial No. 441,948.

f0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ViLLi's N. Gooownv, cit" en of the United States.residing at Albuquerque, in the county of Bernalillo, New Mexico'lcrritory, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locksfor Vehicle-flongucs, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention provides novel means for securing the pole ortongue of a vehicle in the desired adjusted position, thereby enablingthe vehicle to be backed and not swerve from a direct line by the wheelsstriking an obstruction, or by the team becoming unruly.

The invention is designed for poles or tongues of four wheeled vehiclesand such as have the fore truck connected with the body so as to turnabout a vertical axis, the pole or tongue being attached to said truckand movable therewith to give proper direction to the vehicle.

The invention provides means under control of the driver to enable thetongue to be locked at will, so as to provide in effect a rigidconnection between said tongue and the vehicle so that the latter may bebacked a comparatively long distance without being diverged from astraight course either by the wheels striking an obstruction or by theteam becoming fractious.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the meansfor effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings.

Whilc the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side view of the front portion of a four wheel vehicleequipped with locking means embodying the invention, for securing thepole or tongue in an adjusted position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of aportion of the fore-truck frame, the toothed curved bar attached theretoand the latch, the latter being in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a sideview of the lower front portion of the vehicle body, a portion of theforetruck and the lock means for the tongue. Fig. lis a front view ofthe latch and the plate by means of which it is attached to the bolsterstructure.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samerefcrc are characters.

The invention is adapted for vehicles in which the fore truck is adaptedto turn horizontally about a vertical axis and to which truck the poleor tongue is attached, the component parts of the locking mechanismbeing attached to, respectively, the vehicle body or bolster structurethereof and to the truck or the pole and tongue.

The drawings illustrate a vehicle in which the fore truck 1 has a [ifthwheel connection with the bolster structure applied to the bottom of thevehicle body 9. The pole or tongue 3 is connected to the framework ofthe truck '1 so as to move therewith. curved bar or plate l is securedto the framework of the truck and is provided upon its upper side witha. series of teeth 5 which are concentric with the axis about which thetruck turns. A latch 6 has pivotal connection with the bolster structureof the vehicle body, being pivoted at 7 to the front member of thebolster structure. The pivoted latch 6 is provided at its front. endwith a head S which is toothed upon its lower side to match the teeth 5of the bar or plate 41. Normally, the latch 6 is held out of engagementwith the teeth of the bar or plate 5, thereby permitting the truck 1 toturn freely in the usual manner. hen the front end of the latch G islowered to cause the teeth of the 11 aid 8 to engage with the teeth 5 ofthe part 4-, the truck, as also the pole or tongue 3, are locked,thereby providing in effect a rigid connection between the truck and thevehicle body. For operating the latch (3. an elbow lever 9 is providedand pivoted at. 10 to the bottom of the body 2, a link ll. connectingthe horizontal member of the lever 9 with the latch G. The upper end ofthe lever 9 extends within convenient reach of the drivers seat toenable pressure of the foot to be exerted thereon when it is required todepress the latch 6 and cause the same to interlock with the teeth ofthe part t. A retractile spring 12 connects the upright member of thelever 9 with the vehicle body, and serves to hold the latch (3 elevatedor out of engagement with the part L It will be understood from the:l'oregoing that a vehicle equipped with means for lock- Cit ing thebolt or tongue may be operated in the usual manner, the fore truck beingturned by moving the front end of the pole or tongue to the right or tothe left. \Vhen it is required to back in a straight line, the operatorpresses forward and downward upon the upper end of the lever 9, therebybringing the latch 6 into interlocking engagement with the part 4 withthe result that the pole 3 and truck 1 are locked or secured to thevehicle body, thereby preventing possible movement of the truck eitherby the wheels coming in contact with an obstruction or by the teammoving to the right or to the left. hence the vehicle may be backed in adirect course which is of advantage, as will be readily comprehended.

The latch (3 consists of a middle and side members, the latter beingoppositely inclined and forming braces for the middle member. The plate13 to which the latch is pivoted has three pairs of lugs for the severallatch members. The head of the latch, or that part provided with theteeth, is separable so as to be replaced when required for any purpose.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a vehicle, comprising a body, a truck having connection with thevehicle body to turn about a vertical axis, a fifth-wheel between thesaid truck and body, a pole projected from the truck, a toothed barsecured to the front portion of the truck and curved concentric with theaxis thereof and independent ot' and exterior to the fifth-wheel, alatch con'iprising a middle and side members, the latter being diverged,said latch having a toothed head to cooperate with the curved toothedbar, a plate secured to the substructure of the body and provided withpairs of lugs to receive the several members of the latch which arepivoted thereto, and an operated lever having connection with saidlatch.

In testimony whereof I atiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIS l GOODVVIN.

Vitnesses A. G. I. COOKIE, L. F. BOODHEAD.

